Study on Protective Effects of Glycyrrhiza and Pueraria Fermentation Composition on Rats with Chronic Liver Injury

Objective: To study the protective effect and potential mechanism of glycyrrhiza and pueraria fermentation composition on chronic liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄). Methods: SD rats were intragastric with normal saline, Diammonium Glycyrrhizinate Capsules (GLX) and glycyrrhiza and pueraria fermentation composition, respectively, and treated with carbon tetrachloride to establish chronic liver injury model. The contents of liver function indexes (ALT, AST, TBIL, TP), liver fiber indexes (PLD, TGF-β₁, HA), endotoxin and inflammatory factors (LPS, TNF-α, IL-6) in serum of mice were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Pathological changes of liver tissue were observed by light microscope and transmission electron microscope. At the same time, the intestinal flora of different treatment groups was quantitatively analyzed. Results: Compared with normal saline treatment group, treatment group glycyrrhiza and pueraria fermentation composition mice serum AST, ALT level decreased extremely significant (P<0.01). There were no significant differences in serum TBIL and TP levels in glycyrrhiza and pueraria fermentation composition treatment group before and after modeling. The results of liver fibrosis index showed that TGF-β₁ (P<0.01), PLD (P<0.01) and HA (P<0.05) in glycyrrhiza and pueraria fermentation composition protected group were significantly lower than those in normal saline control group. Compared with normal saline treatment group, there were no significant differences in serum IL-6 and LPS levels before and after modeling in glycyrrhiza and pueraria fermentation composition treatment group, while TNF-α level extremely significant decreased in glycyrrhiza and pueraria fermentation composition treatment group (P<0.01). Pathological observation showed that there were no obvious pathological changes in liver tissues in glycyrrhiza and pueraria fermentation composition and GLX treatment groups. The number of EMB, EC, KV and CD in glycyrrhiza and pueraria fermentation composition protection group decreased, while TPY and MRS increased. Conclusion: Glycyrrhiza and pueraria fermentation composition and GLX had certain protective effects on chronic liver injury induced by CCl₄ in rats, and glycyrrhiza and pueraria fermentation composition had more significant effects on liver fibrosis, reducing inflammation and endotoxin levels, and regulating intestinal flora during chronic liver injury.